Shoe-polishing machine



June 15 1926; 1,588,735

H. G. HOOPS SHOE PLISHING yMACHINE! Original Filed May 1 1923 `4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ll" i* Q ululluummw N a o a N R1 5 i wie g E il I i T l1 lh. o IH H Q 12,5. Mmm/1.1.! WH/'Im 111111.11115 1 l;

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H. G. Hoops SHOE POLI SHING MACHINE Original Filed May 1I 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 wucntoz June 15 ,1926. 1,588,735

H. G. HOOPS' 4 'SHOE POLISHING MACHINE original Fued Mayl, 1923 4 sheets-sheet 5 V//l//A Illlllllllllllll S I f? June 15 ,1925. 1,588,735

l H. G. HQOPS sHoE POLISHING MACHINE Original Filed May 1, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES dParleur orifice.

HENRY G. HOOPS, OF FORT MORGAN, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MORGAN MANU- FACTURING'COMPANY, OF FORT MORGAN, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLO- RADO.

SHOE-POLISHING MACHINE.

Application led May 1, 1923, Serial No. 635,968. Renewed December 18, 1925.

The invention relates to improvements in a coin controlled shoe polishing machine.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a shoe polishing machine which is substantially noiseless in operation; to provide a machine that eliminates any danger of damage to either the shoe or the foot of the user when in operati-on; to provide a machine that is provided with improved polishing means in Contact with the shoe and simple operating mechanism therefor;l to provide improved mechanism for timing the period of operation of the brush and polishing cloth of the machine after the insertion of each coin; to provide a machine having multiple polish supplying means whereby Shoes of different c'olor can be polished in the same machine; to provide a polishing machine having associated therewith and operated by the motor for said machine a.cleaning brush whereby the user may brush garments while` the shoes are being shined; and to provide a machine which is inexpensive to manufacture and so simple in construction that there is little danger of breakage of parts.

The invention further consists of novel features and construction of parts aswill be more clearly hereinafter pointed out in the specification and disclosed in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application. y

ln the drawings, Figure l represents a front elevation.

Figure 2 .is a similar View with front plate removed.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation with rear plate removed.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section.

'Figure 3 is a plan view ot' the base portion showing arrangement ot' brushes.

Figure il is a transverse sectional View through polishing cloth mechanism.

Figure T is a longitudinal sectional view through polishing cloth mechanism and resilient foot rest.

Figure b5 is a plan view of/timing and feeding mechanism;

Figure 9 is a face View of timing gear and adiacent mechanism; and,

F igure .l is a vertical sectional view through coin controlled mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, .the numeral l designates the casing of the machine having a lower or base portion 2. The base 2 has overlying the same a false bottom 3 spaced a substantial distance from said base to provide therein therelatively large space 4 adapted to receive operative parts ofthe mechanism which will be presently described.

Mounted upon the false bottom 3 I provide polishing brushes 5 and '6 arranged in pairs, each brush being mounted upon a spindle 7 suspended upon supports 8, eachsupport being pivoted at one of its ends 9 upon the base 2 of the casing while the forward ends of said supports 8 are drawn toward one another by the tension springs 9', which provide means for always holding the brushes into closed contact-with the foot of the user. To each pair of brushes paste is applied, the brushes 5 being supplied through the conduit 10 leading to the paste applying shield 11, while similar conduits 12 lead to the shields 13 for the brushes 6. rl'wo sets of brushes are shown, as one set receives brown paste, while the other set may receive black paste or paste of any other desired color. More than two sets of paste applying brushes may be used it' desirable without departing from this invention. ln any event, all of said brushes are driven by the driving belts 13 passing therearound and coupled with the main driving motor 14 through intermediate gearing, so that. said brushes are rapidly rotated on their spindles 7 when the device is in. operaton. llt will be understood that these brushes merely serve to apply paste or polishing materials to the shoes and do not serve to polish said shoes.

interposed between the paste applying brushes 5 and 6 I providel a pair of polishing brushes 15, the same being mounted on spindles 1G passing through slots 'in the false bottom 3 and driven by flexible belts 17 in a manner to be later described. The spindles 16 are seated on supports 18 pivoted at 19 and urged toward each other by the springs 2O so that when the foot is inserted between the polishing brushes 15 these sprin s are placed under tension. A resilient oot rest 21 is provided between said springs so that the shoe can be adjusted vertically whereby the brushes contact with`all surfaces thereof. Springs Q2 support said foot rest 21, the springs being mounted on the base 2.

Positioned rearwardly of the polishing brushes 16, which are operated by mea-ns of the `belt 17 cooperating with gearing and mechanism driven by said main motor 14, I provide a reciprocating polishing cloth 23, which reciprocates in hollow 'supports 24. Said supports are pivoted at 25 and are separated at their opposed ends, as clearly shown in Figure 6. A treadle QG is connected by links 27, which treadle is engaged by the foot after it is passed between the polishing brushes 15, and on being depressed draws the hollow supports 24 downwaidly until the polishing cloth 23 is pressed over the surface of the shoe. This cloth 23 is then reeiprocated by the operation of the oscillating bar 27 pivoted at 28, and actuated 7 axis of the driving wheel 31.

through the medium of the connecting link 29 operated by the crank 30 formed on the This cloth continuously reciprocates during the operation 0f the device back and forth over the shoe, giving it a high polish. The cloth does not engage the shoe, however, until after the polish has been applied and the shoe then partly shined or polished by the rotating brushes 15 whereupon the final polishing cloth comes into operation. The operating mechanism for said cloth and also for the polish applying brushes 11 and the polishing brushes 15 will now be described in detail.

When the machine is to be used, a coi-n is inserted in the coin slot 32, Figure 10, and drops down until it engages a switch bar 33. The push button 34 is then reciprocated, the -coin forming a coupling between said push button and said switch bar causing the switch bar to move forwardly until the knife switch 35 engages its contacts, permitting the current to pass on to the motor 14. It is to be observed that the switch bar 33 has ya socket 36 therein and unless a coin is inserted in the slot the push button merely reci procates in said socket without actuating the bar. lVith a coin in the slot, however, t-he operation is otherwise. A guard 37 formed with a .money slot 38 overlies the coinentrance and prevents the insertion of any coins when the switch is closed, thus preventing the with the crank extension 30 hereinbefote described. As the motor rotates the driving wheel 3l is likewise rotated and this wheel is formed with a reduced pulley 43 around which the belt 17 passes, which belt is encircled around the spindles of the polishingr brushes 15. A similar pulley 44 is provided on the other face of the driving wheel 31 and around this pulley there is passed the belts 13 for the polish applying brushes and G. It will therefore be seen that as long as the motor is rotating and said motor does continue to rotate after the blade 35 of the switch has been moved into operative contact, it is retained there by reason of the resiliency of said contact and the motor continues to operate, causing the rotation of the brushes 5, 6 and 15, and the oscillation of the polishing cloth 23 until said blade is thrown out 'of electrical connection with its contact. In normal operations it requires not more than two minutes time to thoroughly apply polish to the shoes, and to polish said shoes and the timing mechanism for cutting ofi' the source of electric supply will be more fully hereinafter described.

It is, of course, necessary to apply the pol1sh to the brushes 5 and 6 and the polish thus applied is controlled by means of the manual levers 46 and 47. A description of one of said levers with the mechanism controlled thereby will sufce for both as said mechanism is of the same construction and is merely duplicated so that either black or brown polish may be applied to the shoes depending upon their color. Assuming that black polish is to be used the lever 46 is pushed inwardly after the coin has been inserted in the slot and the inward movement of said lever operates the bell crank lever 47 ivoted to the frame bar in the casing havlng one of its arms connected with the link 48, which is in turn ivoted to a movable bracket 49 having a caring receiving the shaft 50, Which shaft at one end carries a gear 51 meshing with a large timing gear 52 driven intermittently by means of the reciprocating pawl 53 encircling the cani 54 mounted on the axis of the main drive wheel 31. Said timing gear 52 is slowly revolved tooth by tooth through the action of the pawl 53 which has a forward tooth engaging the gear and a ratchet 54 serves to prevent a rearward movement of said timing gear. It is therefore obvious that as the motor rotates and the main driving wheel 3l like-A wise revolves that the rotation of this wheel causes a reciprocation of the pawl 53 which coacts with the teeth .on the timing gear 52 intermittently rotating said gear in one direction.v The opposite endof the shaft carries a worm 55, which meshes with a gear 56, the shaft of which is journaled ina bracket 57 carried by a yoke 58 mounted on the frame bar 59 of the machine. The interior of the gear 56 is screw threaded and tooth.

the threads thereof cooperate with the threads on the rod 60 connected with the yoke 61 in a permanent manner so that as said gear is rotated the yoke 61 is reciprocated moving downwardly into the pump cylinders 62, the pistons on the ends of said yokes discharging from said cylinders the paste through the'feeding pipes 63, which pipes lead to the polish applying brushes 5 and 6. It is only when the push buttons or levers 46 or 47 are operated that the shaft 50 is moved forwardly in its pivoted bearing so that its gear 51 engages the timing gear 52 that the pumps are actuated to eject the blacking, .it being apparent therefore that the application of the blacking or polish to the shoe is under the manual control of the operator. Two of the polish applying pumpsare disclosed, but inasmuch as they are of the same identical construction, like parts are given similar reference characters, 1t being appreciated, however, that theyare subject to independentv control by the manipulation of the buttons 46 and :47.

switch blade is automatically disengaged from its contact by the operation of the following mechanism. As previouslyjypointed out, during the rotation of the main drive wheel 31 the pawl 5.3 riding on'f-tlecam 54 is reciprocated and' each Vmovement of said pawl moves the timing wheel 52 around one 1t is prevented from turning rearwardly by the pawl 54. One side of said timing wheel carries a detent 64, which is adapted to engage mechanism to disengage the switch blade from its contact. Said mechanism comprises a bell crank lever 65 p pivoted to the side of 'the frame, one arm 66 ot' said lever being connected by a link 67 with the lower side of the switch bar 38, while the other end of the lever projects' inwardly toward the side of the timing wheel 5:2. lPivoted at one side of the inwardly extending portion of said bell crank lever is a 'trip 68' having an upstanding pin 69, which trip is. also connected to a coil spring 70, but normally said spring is under no tension so that .the pini 69 of the trip merely engages the inwardly extending arm of the bell crank lever, but has no effect on ythe switch. As the timing gear 52, however, rotates, but when said gear has rotated a sufficient distance the detent 64 engages the end of the 'trip 68 moving the same on its pivot. away from the inwardly extending arm ofthe bell crank lever 65 and placing the spring 70 under tension. This movement of the timing wheel 52 continues until the trip flies by the detent and is pulled rearwardly by the springs 70 with substantial force, the pin 69 on said trip 5t this -time engaging the inwardly extending part of the bell crank lever 65 with suilicient force to -cause said' leverto rock on its pivot forcing the connecting link 67 rearwardly and .thereby moving the switch bar 33 so that theswitch blade 35 is drawn out of contact with its keeper. The motor 14 is therefore'no longer supplied with current and the operation of the machine ceases until a further coin is placed in the coin slot 32.

As an embodiment of the invention, during the operation of the timing gear, I preferably run the shaft of the same through the face of the casing and mount a pointer 74 therein. Said pointer 74is movable over the'dial75 for showing the position of the timing gear 52 so that when said pointer has traveled one-half way around the dial this is an indication that the shoe has probably been polished and that the shoe on the other foot of the user should be inserted in the machine for polishing. Any other form of connection can be used for accomplishing this end without departing froml the invention.

Another feature of the invention constitutes the clothes brush 77 mounted on the end of a flexible hollow cable 78, which cable is normally pulled down into the casi I'by the weight 79, as shown in Figure 2, aiil is' connected to a pump 80 mounted inthe easing, the-'piston 8l of which is pivoted-t-o the oscillating bar 27 so that when the motor is in operation air is forced through the cable 78,:'an'd through orifices in the brush 77 to blow'nvor remove dust and dirt from the coat ofthe user of the machine. As-soon as the brush 77 is released 'it is returned to the position shown in F igure y2 by the counter weight 79 and otl course, as long as the motor is operating air 'is being forced through the orifices in this brush, but such airis not supplied the moment the motor ceases.

Having thus described the various parts of the ap aratus, it is believed that its .operation wilibe clearly apparent, but the operation may bei-.briefly recited as follows:

Assuming that it is desired to use the ma#I chine, the user inserts a coin of a given denomination in the slot 32 and pushes forwardly the push button 34. This. movesl the switch bar 33 causing the switch blade 35 to be forced into contact with the spring switchv and current is imparted to the main motor 14. If black shoes are to be polished the button 46 is pulled outwardly moving the bell crank lever 47, the link 48 and forcing the gear 51 into contactfwith the timing gear 52 so that the rods 61 are reciprocated forcing the blacking from the pump 62 down through the feed pipes to the polishing brushes 6. Tt is understood, of course, that the user has placed one of his feet between said brushes 6, and it is also.

appreciated that said brushes are rotating by reason of the connecting belt travelling around the `pulley on the rotating main driving wheel 31. This causes the blacking to be applied to the shoes, one shoe being inserted between the brushes at a time, as it will be understood from the foregoing description that the operation of the main motor drives the shaft 41 through the connecting belt, this shaft in turn driving the main driving wheel 31 through the belt 43, and said wheel 31 in turn through the, cam operated pawl 53 engaging the teeth on the timin gear 52, intermittently moves said gear forwardly and during this vmotion the shaft 50 is, of course driven as its gear 51 has been thrown in contact with the periphery of the timing gear 52 by the shifting of the push button 46. lVhen suficient polish has been applied then the push button is released and the polish applying pumps become inactive. The knife switch 35, however, is at this time in operative contact with the s ring arms of the switch and current is stil passing to the motor 14. The user then places one foot between the brushes 15 on the treadle 21, and these brushes are rapidly rotated by the driving belt 13 operated off of the main wheel 31 by the pulley 43', this rotation of the brushes serving to partly polish the shoe.. The shoe is moved back and forth between the rotating brushes 15 and then advanced forwardly until the foot rests upon the pivotally connected treadle 26, thus drawing the arms 24 downwardly against the tension of the spring 24 until the polishing cloth or fabric 23 is drawn around the'fshoe as shown in Figure 6. This .cloth 23 is continuously reciprocated by reason of the oscillatin bar 27 connected to the ends of the clot which bar is pivoted at 28 and is oscillated by the connecting link 29 pivoted to the crank 30 forming an extension of the axle of thev main driving wheel 31. During this period the timing gear 52 is intermittently advanced and as it advances the, pointer 74 is operated over the dial and when said pointer reaches the position on the dial in- Lesespa' other shoe. The other shoe is then inserted between the polish applying daubers or brushes 6, and the push button 46 again operated to cause polish to beapplied to the shoe. The shoe is then insertedbetween4 the brushes 15 and under the polishing cloth 23 in the manner hereinbefore described. As the timing gear 52 reaches the end of its revolution the detent 64 thereon engages the trip 68 connected with lthe spring 70 and shifts said trip against the tension of the spring. After a Given movement the end of this trip flies ofl the edge of the detent and is returned rearwardly with great impact by the spring 70 that has been placed under tension. This rearward movement of the trip causes the pin 69 thereon to engage the arm of the bell crank lever 65 moving one arm of this lever outwardly so that the link 67 is shifted. which link is in turn connected to the switch bar 33 and the movement of this bar throws the knife switch 35 outwardly from electrical contact causing the operation of the motor to cease. lt is then necessary to insert a new coin to place the machine in operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

-l. In a slice polishing machine, the conibination with a casing, of polish applying daubers thereon, means for feeding polish to said daubers, polishing brushes, and means for rotating said brushes while in contact with the shoe, a reciprocating polishing cloth adjacent said brushes, means for drawing said cloth'down upon the surface of the shoe being polished after passage of the shoe between' said polishing brushes, and operating means for reciprocating said cloth.

2. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of polish applying daubers thereon, means for feeding polish to said daubers, polishing brushes, and means for rotating said brushes including a driving wheel, a reciprocating polishing clot-h adjacent said brushes, means .for drawing said cloth down upon the surface of the Ashoe being polished after passage of Vthe shoe for said feeding mechanism, polishing means within said casing, andv connections between said driving motor and said polishing means to operate the same to polish shoes after the application of thepolish, said polish feeding mechanism including a shiftable shaft, a timing gear driven by the motor, gears on said shiftable shaftv adapted when one of said gears is thrown into mesh with the timing gear to eject polish; from said polish feeding mechanism.

5. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of polish applying daubers thereon, means'for feeding polish to said daubeis including a plurality -of polish feeding pumps, manually controlled independently operable means for controlling the ejectiono-f polish from either of said pumps, said means including a main driving motor, and shiftable driving connections bet-Ween said motor and said' pumps l adapted when moved in an operative position tovfeed polish from said pumps, polishing means carried by said casing, and op- -erating mechanism therefor driven by said motor.

6. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of. polish applying daub'ers thereon, means for feedlng polish to said daubers including a plurality of i polish feedingpumps, manuallly controlled independently voperable means for control- .ling the ejection of polish from either of said pumps, said means including a main driving mot/or, and shiftabledrlving. connections between sald motor and said pumps adapted when moved in an operative posibination with a casing, of polishin brushes mounted thereon, a polishing clot carried by said casing, a main driving motor, coin controlled mechanism for said motor including a shiftable switch, means for reci recating the polishing cloth driven by sai motor including a rocking arm connected with the' ends of said cloth, a pivoted support for said arm, a driving crank and a link connectionjbetween said crank and said arm, a

main drive wheel driven by. said motor connected with the crank, and automatically acting means for stoppingl the motor when the Vsame has run'a predetermined time.`

8. In a shoe polishing machine, the coinbination with a casing, of-polisli applying devices thereon, means for -feeding polish to said devices, manually controlled independently operable devices for controlling the ejection ot" polish to either of said polish -applying devices, said means including a maink driving motor, sliiftable driving connectlons between 4said motor and 'said feeding means, polishing brushes carried by the casing, anddriving connections between Said 30 motor and said brushes.

9.- In a lshoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of polish applying devices thereon, means for feeding polish to said devices, manually controlled independently operable devices for controllng the ejection of polish to either of said polish applying devices, said means including a main driving motor, shiftable driving connections between said motor and said feeding means, polishing brushes carried by the casing, driving connections between said motor land said brushes, and a polishing cloth operable by said motor and adapted to engage the shoe after passage between said 'polishing 95 brushes.

l0. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of polish applying devices thereon, means for applying polish to said devices including a plurality of polished features, manually controlled independently operable means for controlling the ejection of polish from either of said features to either of said devices, said polish feeding means including a driving motor, and shiftable driving connections between said motor and said feeding means adapted when moved in an operative position to eject polish from said feeding means, polishing brushes carried by said casing, and operating mechanism therefor driven by said motor.

11. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a' casing, of means for applying polish to shoes inserted in the caslng, polishing brushes', means for rotating said brushes while in contact with the shoe, a reciprocating polishing cloth adjacent said brushes, hinged arms for supporting said cloth, a pedal connected with said arms for drawing the cloth down upon a shoe when pressure is applied thereto, and sprin s for returning said arms upon the release o pressure on said pedal.

12. In a shoe polishing nia/chine, the combination -with a casing, of vpolish applying devices thereon, a reciprocating polishing cloth carried by said casing, pivoted arms for supporting said cloth, a treadle connecty l ed to each of said arms and adapted to, draw A said arms downwardly when pressure .is apno plied fo the treadle t0 bring the cloth in contact with the shoe, and means for returning said arms upon the release of pressure on said treaclle.

13. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a casing, of polish applying devices thereon, a reciprocating polishing cloth carried by said casing, pivoted arms for supporting said cloth, a treadle connected fo each of said arms and adapted to draw said arms downwardly when pressure is applied tothe treadle to 'bring the cloth in Contact with the shoe, and means for returning said arms upon the release of pressure on said treadle, said means comprising a spring cooperating with the treadle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HENRY G. HOOPS. 

